Eastern Palace, half of the storeroom had collapsed, thick smoke billowing.

In the main hall, the piercing sound of jade and porcelain shattering rang out as Crown Prince Ning Tan trembled prostrate on the ground, his temple immediately oozing thick crimson blood.

The Empress had just rushed over upon hearing the news when the Emperor angrily said, “Look at this fine son you’ve raised!”

The Empress replied, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your dragon health is most important.”

Sticky blood clogged his eyes, but he dared not wipe it with his sleeve. He could only crawl on his knees, kowtowing as he pleaded, “Your son is wronged! Someone must be framing me! I beg Father Emperor to investigate clearly!”

“You insolent whelp, still daring to quibble!”

The Emperor’s throat emitted a turbid cough as he pointed at him, “At your mother’s birthday banquet, you spoke presumptuous words in front of all officials and noble ladies. Daily in the Eastern Palace, you’ve shown no ambition to improve yourself, instead feasting and carousing with eunuchs and palace maids, appointing several ‘Imperial Consorts’ and ‘Stewards’… For this alone, I could condemn you to death for treason!”

Ning Tan shrank his neck in terror, his sobbing protests instantly stuck in his throat.

Earlier when Father Emperor had returned from the autumn hunt with his dragon body unwell, Ning Tan had helped review memorials for two days and tasted the supreme flavor of imperial power, becoming somewhat smug. He thought no one knew, but never expected his father to be fully aware.

Seeing the Crown Prince utterly confounded, the Emperor knew those outrageous behaviors were true, and his anger intensified.

“Remember, everything you have was given by me! I can establish you, and I can also depose you!”

With that, the Emperor swept his sleeves and left.

“Father Emperor… Mother Empress, Mother Empress!”

Ning Tan desperately clutched the Empress’s phoenix robe, as if grasping the last piece of driftwood.

The Empress’s eyes were vacant, and immediately palace servants came forward to pry open the Crown Prince’s fingers one by one.

“Right Minister, Minister Xue!”

Ning Tan looked toward the old man standing with a cane outside the door and, with tears streaming down his face, said, “I am the only legitimate son! You’ll help me, won’t you?”

Right Minister Xue’s white beard quivered slightly as he sighed through his nostrils, then slowly turned away with Xue Song’s support.

The north wind wailed, and the Emperor’s weary voice could faintly be heard: “Old Xue, in your opinion, regarding this matter of deposition and establishment…”

“The establishment of an heir concerns state rituals and cannot be rushed,” the Right Minister said in his aged voice. “After the Imperial Grandson is born, Your Majesty can make a final decision.”

“In that case, we’ll wait another two months.”

The Emperor sighed, “The end of the year brings many worries. The Winter Festival is approaching, and I am tired…”

In the vast hall, only Ning Tan remained, collapsed on the ground like mud, his shadow jumping on the wall like a ghost.

Gradually, that despair spread unrestrained, breeding ostentatious hatred.

……

There were many banquets and social occasions around the New Year.

A hundred years ago, this dynasty was established on the Winter Solstice, so this day was second only to the Lantern Festival as a major celebration, commonly known as the “Second New Year.”

This year’s Winter Festival was like previous years. The Emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to host a grand palace banquet with heaven-worshipping ceremonies and feasts to reward the civil and military officials for their loyalty and hard work throughout the year.

Due to her imperial betrothal, Yu Lingxi was also among the invited this year.

The northern wind was piercing, and dark clouds pressed low on the horizon, suggesting heavy snow.

Yu Huanchen was away on official business, and Yu Xinyi was also leading the Imperial Patrol to guard the inner palace. In the carriage, Yu Yuan personally accompanied his daughter to the banquet.

The streets were wide and bustling, so the carriage moved slowly. Yu Lingxi was wrapped in a crimson cloak, its rabbit fur collar accentuating her exquisite face.

Suddenly the carriage tilted with a jolt, and Yu Lingxi crashed against the wall, her arm aching.

“What happened?” Yu Yuan asked.

The guard checked and answered, “General, the wheel rim has broken.”

A broken carriage midway was an ominous sign.

Yu Lingxi frowned, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

She recalled from her previous life’s memories the great upheaval that would occur at this year’s end, making every day feel like walking on thin ice.

Yu Yuan’s expression also grew solemn. Seeing that the wheel rim was taking too long to repair, he grabbed his cloak and said, “We cannot be late for the palace banquet. I’ll enter the palace first. If the wheel cannot be fixed, let Qingxiao take you home. I’ll make your excuses to the Empress and the Xue family.”

Yu Lingxi thought for a moment and reminded him, “There may be trouble soon. Please be careful, Father.”

“I know,” Yu Yuan said.

Yu Yuan abandoned the carriage and mounted a horse, his cloak fluttering as he galloped toward the palace gate.

The clanging sounds of carriage repairs began as Yu Lingxi sat alone inside.

She had previously entrusted Tang Buli to deliver invitations and lanterns, but had not received any response, and didn’t know if Ning Yin had understood her hint.

According to her memories from her previous life, Ning Yin’s bloodbath in the Golden Throne Hall—killing his brother and father—also happened at the year’s end, just about a month from now.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t wait until then.

Seven days later would be her wedding day.

If she were lucky, after the dust settled, perhaps the Yu family could obtain a divorce paper for her.

Perhaps this was the price of altering fate—not everything could go as wished.

Just as she was thinking, the carriage suddenly tilted again with a clattering sound.

After a moment of silence, the attendant’s cautious voice came from outside: “Miss, the… the wheel rim on the other side has also broken.”

“…”

Yu Lingxi’s attire today was unsuitable for horseback riding, and it was too late to find another carriage or sedan chair.

Besides, she was just as well not having to go to the palace and engage in superficial niceties, so she said, “Let’s return home.”

In the palace.

After the Emperor’s lengthy ceremonial prayers to heaven, officials, noble ladies, and royal princes were seated in two rows in the Purple Glory Hall for entertainment and festivities.

Yu Yuan looked around; the Xue family hadn’t come either.

It was said that Right Minister Xue, angered by Xue Chen’s arrest for consorting with courtesans, had taken sick leave and wasn’t attending the banquet.

Reflecting on recent events, Yu Yuan’s thoughts were heavy.

Before the hall, Yu Xinyi wore the armor of the Imperial Patrol, carrying a fine bow and arrows, guarding the safety of all the imperial consorts.

Seeing Yu Yuan striding to his seat, she looked behind him and asked, “Father, where is Suisui?”

“The carriage broke down, she probably won’t make it to the banquet,” Yu Yuan explained briefly, then warned, “The palace guards at the gates today look unfamiliar. Keep your eyes open and don’t be careless.”

“I understand, Father,” Yu Xinyi said.

As soon as Yu Yuan left, a fresh young male voice called out: “Commander Yu!”

Yu Xinyi couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the sound, turning to see it was indeed the young Marquis of Nanyang, Ning Zizhuo.

“Young Marquis,” Yu Xinyi had to bow with clasped hands in greeting. This youth loved to play with cats and dogs, and such a lively palace banquet was certainly something he wouldn’t miss.

Ning Zizhuo wore a light gold and white marquis robe, his ponytail tied high, smiling as he ran over: “Commander Yu, I just tasted a piece of flower cake that was delicious. You should try it too!”

With that, he casually handed the pretty pastry he had taken from the banquet to Yu Xinyi in front of everyone, acting quite bold and natural.

Yu Xinyi felt this boy just needed a wagging tail behind him to complete the picture.

The Imperial Patrol subordinates behind her kept their eyes straight ahead, wanting to laugh but not daring to, their faces red and necks swollen from holding it in.

“Everyone need not be restrained, please drink merrily!” the Emperor raised his cup.

All officials rose to return the toast, and the banquet officially began. Songs, dances, and music wafted through the air, and bells chimed, creating unparalleled splendor.

Suddenly, someone walked in through the hall door.

Crown Prince Ning Tan wore plain clothes, his hair disheveled and feet bare, standing in stark contrast to the elaborately dressed officials and noble ladies.

The music and bell sounds abruptly ceased. The officials gradually quieted down from their mutual congratulations, and the Emperor’s face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot.

Although the matter of secretly possessing dragon robes had been suppressed, walls had ears, especially since Ning Tan had been so stupidly conspicuous that everyone could guess something.

“You should be in the Eastern Palace reflecting on your conduct. Why are you here?” the Emperor asked sternly.

“Your son has failed Your Majesty and Mother Empress’s teachings. I cannot sleep day or night. On this Winter Festival ceremony, I come to kowtow and beg forgiveness from Father Emperor and all under heaven,” Ning Tan said, his bare feet trembling on the cold floor tiles, his expression sorrowful. “I beg Father Emperor to give me a chance to repent face to face! If the officials still feel I am unworthy, I… am willing to yield the heir’s position to someone more worthy!”

Yu Xinyi let out a very light snort.

Watching the Crown Prince touching his forehead to the ground, tears streaming, she thought: What act is he putting on?

Yu Yuan in his seat also had a solemn expression, observing from afar.

The Emperor’s expression softened somewhat. “Knowing one’s errors and correcting them is not a capital offense. If you have something to say, say it.”

Ning Tan took a cup of wine from a palace maid’s tray, standing up. “In the seventh year of Tianzhao, Father Emperor established me as Crown Prince. For six years as heir, I have achieved nothing, never touched a memorial, never handled state affairs…”

These words hardly seemed like something the dissolute, pleasure-seeking Crown Prince could utter.

Yu Xinyi frowned, feeling something was very wrong.

Indeed, the next moment, Ning Tan raised his hand and turned, pointing directly at the Emperor on his throne, his sorrowful face twisting into something extremely distorted: “…That’s because my Father Emperor—the current Son of Heaven—guarded against his son like a thief! He doesn’t need a Crown Prince, but a puppet, a sculpture that obeys his every command!”

The Crown Prince had gone mad, daring to publicly insult the Emperor!

The entire hall was in uproar.

“Why wouldn’t you listen to your son’s explanation? Why?” Ning Tan’s face flushed red as he clutched the cup and shouted, “Why?!”

The Emperor’s just-softened expression instantly tightened again, a vein bulging on his temple as he said, “Crown Prince, you’re possessed!”

“Yes, yes! But it was you who drove me to it! You don’t allow your son to touch imperial power, nor do you permit him to be incompetent and lustful. The position of Crown Prince is given and taken away at your whim. Being your son is so difficult, so difficult!”

Ning Tan started laughing, calling out hoarsely, “In your eyes, I’m not the Crown Prince. I’m just a dog you pet when happy and kick away when displeased!”

With a crash of jade breaking, Ning Tan violently smashed the cup in his hand.

Wang Lingqing, closest to the Emperor, was the first to act, followed by Cloud Banner General Li Mao and Military Deputy Liu Feng, leading the armored guards rushing in!

Under the pursuit of profit, there is no absolute loyalty.

For the greedy, the promise of “being granted marquis titles” after helping the Crown Prince ascend was enough to drive them to do anything.

Shattered jade scattered, reflecting the cold gleam of swords and blades throughout the hall.

At the Seventh Prince’s residence.

Six or seven corpses lay sprawled on the ground—eunuchs and palace maids, all spies planted from the Eastern Palace or elsewhere in the palace.

They now lay twisted in pools of blood, eliminated.

Their masters wouldn’t survive this day, so these troublesome rats naturally couldn’t be spared either.

Ning Yin commanded: “Clean it thoroughly.”

The bodies were dragged away, several basins of water were poured down, and in no time, the steps gleamed like new.

An attendant received a secret message and strode quickly across the courtyard, reporting: “Your Highness, the Eastern Palace has made its move. Chen Feng and the others are also ready. Should we…”

Ning Yin sat by the beast-shaped incense burner, carefully wiping his hands clean.

Only after rubbing his cold white knuckles until they turned red, removing all the bloody smell from his body, did he lean against the window-side desk, playing with an exquisite black jade carving in his hand, caressing it inch by inch.

“Capturing the net cannot be rushed. Wait,” Ning Yin said.

He had just established a foothold in the palace, and apart from Chen Feng and Li Jiu, who had feigned death to infiltrate the palace guards, he had very few people he could use.

Besides, since this was vengeance, naturally he wanted to wait until the Emperor and Crown Prince destroyed each other, until the remaining dying remnants would be like turtles in a jar, completely unable to stop his advance…

“Your Highness, there’s one more thing.”

“Speak.”

“Following your plan, we sabotaged the Yu family’s carriage midway and blocked the streets, but we still couldn’t stop General Yu…”

The attendant bowed, gulping before softly saying, “He rode alone into the palace.”

The hand caressing the jade carving paused.

Ning Yin narrowed his eyes, his handsome pale face against the cold light, repeating: “Oh, he went into the palace?”

Although his tone was casual, the attendant felt a chill down his spine and quickly knelt, saying: “I have failed my duty! Should we turn this to our advantage and force General Yu to cooperate from within…”

“No need.”

Yu Yuan was a straightforward military man. Although forced by the Emperor’s suppression and suspicion to secretly provide some convenience to himself, it didn’t mean he would agree with his crazy, bloody ideas.

Unless…

Ning Yin looked at the beautiful jade carving in his palm, his fingertips brushing over the exquisitely carved features.

……

Yu Lingxi sat in the flower hall, her eyelid twitching, feeling inexplicably restless.

“Suisui?”

Madam Yu called several times before Yu Lingxi came back to her senses, smiling: “Mother, what is it?”

Su Wan was somewhat concerned, taking her hand: “Mother was asking if you wanted to make any changes to the dowry list?”

Yu Lingxi glanced at the long, gold-embossed red list, her eyelashes lowering: “I’ll follow Mother’s arrangements.”

How could Madam Yu not see through her daughter’s concerns?

Her daughter and Young Master Xue had been childhood friends, but they only had sibling-like affection, not the feelings between a man and woman, yet they were bound together by an imperial decree of betrothal.

She had heard from her husband that Suisui originally had a chance to escape. But for the sake of the bigger picture, and the safety of the entire family, she still chose to dutifully return home.

How could she as a mother not ache for her?

She sighed, then heard urgent hoofbeats outside.

Unlike the usual sounds of father and son returning home, these hoofbeats were chaotic and hasty, coming and going in a confused manner.

Yu Huanchen had already changed into armor, pushing the door open as he entered, bringing a gust of cold wind.

“Suisui, you and your mother and Awani stay at home. No matter what happens, don’t go out.”

His tone was unprecedentedly hoarse and heavy, completely lacking his usual cheerfulness.

Yu Lingxi reassured her mother and sister-in-law, then followed him out, only to see several trusted generals under the Yu family army already fully armed, discussing something.

“…His Majesty has divided military power into three parts. Now if we want to deploy troops to aid the Emperor, we still need orders from the Ministry of Revenue and the eunuchs. How can we possibly be in time!”

One of them laughed angrily, saying indignantly, “If we deploy troops privately, we’ll be accused of treason! It’s truly damned if we do, damned if we don’t.”

“Father and Yu Xinyi are still trapped in the palace, we can’t abandon them,” Yu Huanchen decided decisively. “You go first to mobilize all available palace guards to Xuanwu Gate. Even if we can’t act rashly, we can still intimidate the rebels…”

Then Yu Huanchen turned his head and saw his sister standing in the courtyard, which startled him.

“Suisui.”

Yu Huanchen waved for his subordinates to go make arrangements while he walked toward his sister, his hand on his sword.

Yu Lingxi looked at the silver scale armor on her brother’s body and frowned, asking: “What’s happened in the palace?”

Yu Huanchen looked at his sister’s clear eyes, remembering her previous prediction about year-end chaos, and told her the truth: “The Crown Prince has staged a rebellion during the Winter Festival banquet, imprisoning over three hundred officials and noble ladies in the Purple Glory Hall, forcing the Emperor to abdicate.”

Yu Lingxi’s mind went blank, and all her missing memories connected into a circle at this moment.

She finally understood what she had missed in her previous life while lying ill in bed—

A palace rebellion, a turmoil sufficient for Ning Yin to reap the benefits and purge the court.

The Crown Prince and Emperor destroy each other, with one inevitably defeated, and the remaining struggling survivors would be like turtles in a jar, completely unable to stop Ning Yin’s steps…

But in the previous life’s turmoil, her brother and father were not present. This was the only variable in Ning Yin’s revenge plan.

A very dangerous variable.

“Brother, can you trust me once more?” Yu Lingxi asked seriously.

“Of course!” Yu Huanchen nodded.

From the real culprit behind the disaster grain to Wei Qi’s true identity, from the Xue family’s duplicity to her prediction of year-end chaos, too many of his sister’s forecasts had become reality. Yu Huanchen had no reason not to believe her.

“No matter what happens in this palace rebellion, please rescue Father and Sister, and also protect the Seventh Prince,” Yu Lingxi said.

Yu Lingxi took a deep breath and made a deep bow to her brother. “I beg you to help him!”

In her previous life, Ning Yin killed everyone, standing at the highest position in the world in an almost self-destructive way, but also bearing the most vicious curses and backlash.

If possible, in this life she wanted Ning Yin to gain power over the world and also earn everyone’s respect.

To transform him from the madman who defied all norms in his previous life into a righteous hero.